The Orchard Lake Road construction
couldn’t stop me from sinking my teeth into
a famous, juicy Redcoat Burger. On September 9, the Red Coat Tavern and its celebrated burger had at last made its way to West
Bloomfield. Now you can say goodbye to the
Royal Oak schlep and say hello to one of the
best upscale burger joints in Metro Detroit.
The food at Red Coat Tavern is what made
Bloomfield Hills residents trek 15 miles to
Royal Oak. The Redcoat Special Hamburger
($6.95) is as advertised, absolutely incredible. The burger is usually served with lettuce, tomato, and pickles, but I ordered mine
without tomatoes and added grilled onions.
Everything was delectable. The meat was
cooked to perfection, the sauce was delicious,

and the grilled onions hit the spot. Many other
combinations can be created, including replacing the beef with lower-fat Piedmontese Beef
(extra $2), but I highly suggest my order. Plain
and simply, no other restaurant
can compete with this whopping half-pound mouthwatering piece of bovine heaven.
I was also able to enjoy
thin-cut French fries ($4),
an obvious perfect side dish.
The Chicken Caesar Salad
($7 plain, $12 with chicken) is a great alternative if
you’re not in the mood for
meat. In addition, the macaroni and cheese is very tasty.
Although I didn’t try these
myself, popular appetizers
include Mariner-Style Mussels, Scotch Eggs, and the Roadhouse Buffalo Wings, all recommended by Keith, the
manager. The Redcoat Tavern does not serve
breakfast, but it does open in time for brunch.
Burgers aside, if you’re looking for a place
with great ambiance the Red Coat Tavern might

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not be your restaurant of choice. The lighting was overly dim. If you were to go when it’s
dark outside, reading the menu could be nearly
impossible. Large parties could also
pose a challenge because the tables are
pretty close together. The restaurant
as a whole isn’t that big, and just like its
sister in Royal Oak, the wait could be
out the door and up to an hour or more
by 6:00, but when I went at 5:45 on a
Monday night there was no line at all.
Red Coat’s service is what I would call
average. My waiter came simply to take
orders and deliver them. He may have
asked how we were doing once or twice,
but nothing over the top or memorable.
The Red Coat Tavern proves to be a
restaurant every person should try. And
once you try it, I can guarantee you’ll be
back a second and third time. Although
the wait may be long and frustrating, the service
may not be the best there is, and it may get crowded, remember, the burger is the prize. The anticipation of waiting makes the burger taste even
better. The Red Coat Tavern is the real deal, and
that’s why it’s been a Detroit staple since 1972.

The Red
Coat Tavern is
the real deal,
and that’s why
it’s been a Detroit staple since
1972.

Many household items have multiple
uses. You can use club soda to take out a
stain, peanut butter to get that Bubblicious
out of your hair, and a leash to restrain…
your kid?
I’m walking through the airport, and as
I pass the baggage claim, I look to my left
and what do I see? A little girl, about five
years old, being “walked” on a leash by her
overbearing mother.
Utterly disturbed by this scene I ask myself, “since when have children become
pets?” As I recall, a slap on the wrist used
to be sufficient discipline for an unruly
child, but now it seems that parents feel
the need to strap their children up in order
to keep them under control.
A leash is a tool traditionally used to prevent a pet from running into traffic. Using
them on children seems unnecessary and
dehumanizing. Though children can be
wild, they aren’t comparable to animals
that needed to be caged in a zoo.
I do not understand the mindsets of
parents who imprison their child. It can’t
just be me who’s secretly judging. I know
these parents must receive questioning
looks whenever in public.
I simply can’t understand the rationalization that a leash is vital to their children’s
safety. To keep your child close to your
side, I believe a more suitable (and more
normal) option would be to hold their
hand.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in
the children’s shoes. How would you feel
being “walked?” Parents seem to be setting their children up for rebellious teenage years and disaster. By controlling their
every move at a young age, they’ll be more
likely to run wild when they grow older.
The bottom line: a leash’s purpose is
for walking four-legged animals, not twolegged humans.